The pure Monastrell 2017 La Tremenda always represents great value and showcases the behavior of the grape in the Mediterranean climate and soil from Alicante. The grapes from 25-year-old vines fermented in small stainless steel vats, and the wine matured in French oak barrels for six months. There are notes of fresh fruit, rosemary and thyme, with clean aromas, open and expressive. The palate is juicy and round, and this is an entry-level red that represents the higher volume in the winery. This wine reflects the changes over the last seven or eight years: they do three tries of the harvest, and the first bunches tend to go to this wine. The well-seasoned barrels also go to this wine, and the vinification is much softer. The result is fruit-driven, with just a spicy twist. 2017 seems a lot cooler in the Mediterranean part of Spain than in most of the inland regions like Rioja, Ribera del Duero and so on. This is a bargain Monastrell. 70,000 bottles. It was bottled in December 2018.